Qin Wentian stared at his Purgatory Vermilion Bird before shifting his gaze onto the constellation it summoned. This was an indication of a powerhouse at the Celestial Phenomenon level.

The constellation was like a magical enchantment, turning this place into hell on earth-a true purgatory.

"Are you still there?!"

Qin Wentian's silhouette soared up into the skies with explosive speed, towards the illusory silhouette of the true spirit of the Vermilion Bird Formation that his Purgatory Vermilion Bird had merged with. Forcibly withstanding the pressure, he wiped the traces of blood away from his mouth as he continued flying upwards. Around him, miserable cries filled with pain and agony resounded, many of the crowd had perished in this hellish Purgatory.

Each of the still surviving spectators all had unmasked terror on their faces, they would never have expected such a thing to happen, not even in their wildest dreams. Under that Purgatory Constellation, the legs of several grew weak as they collapsed to the ground from the gut-wrenching fear-they didn't even have the energy to run away anymore. With but a single thought, the Purgatory Vermilion Bird would be able to slay them effortlessly.

"Wentian gege!" Bai Qing shouted in panic when she saw Qin Wentian flying up to the skies. That baleful aura the immense Vermilion Bird was exuding gave her pause-was the Purgatory Vermilion Bird still inside there somewhere after the merge?

Qin Wentian finally stood next to the face of the Vermilion Bird. Right now, if the true spirit of the Vermilion Bird formation willed it, he would definitely die.

Qin Wentian stretched out his hand. The true spirit of the Vermilion Bird Formation stared back at him, with no warmth in its eyes, causing the hearts of everyone that stood on the arena platform to pound with nervousness, perspiration drenching their back in a cold sweat.

"I don't believe that you would vanish just like that." Qin Wentian stared into the eyes of the Vermilion Bird as his hands gently caressed its face.

"BZZZ!" A massive wind kicked up, as meteors of purgatory flames descended with increasing speed from the Heavens. Violence flashed in the eyes of the Vermilion Bird as it glared at Qin Wentian.

"Wentian, COME BACK!" Fan Le and the rest screamed in worry. This fellow was too impulsive.

It was as though Qin Wentian couldn't hear their calls. He continued looking into the eye of the Vermilion Bird until a hint of warmth and gentleness emerged from within. After which, it let out a soft coo as it lowered its immense head softly against Qin Wentian's palm, allowing him to caress it as he wished.

Upon seeing this scene, only then did those on the arena platform relax. Qin Wentian was really too impetuous; he had no definite odds of success, yet he went ahead and gambled anyway.

"I know you are still inside there somewhere. Although you fused and became a formation's spirit, I will definitely think of a way to bring you back," Qin Wentian gently stated, hating himself immensely. If only he were strong enough, he wouldn't have had to depend on the Purgatory Vermilion Bird's strength to get out of this danger.

The spirit of the Vermilion Bird Formation issued a screech as it gazed at the cultivators that were trapped in this world. Qin Wentian similarly mirrored its actions[a][b][c], before stating in a cold and emotionless voice, "As for those who made a move against us earlier, kill them all."

"Qin Wentian, you dare?"

A voice clad in heavy killing intent gushed out.

"If you kill us here, be it soaring up to the skies of Grand Xia, or tunnelling deep into its earth, DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STILL SURVIVE?"

His threatening intent was clearly heard, but as the sound of his voice faded, the Purgatory Constellation shone brightly, and in a single instant, that person let out a terrible scream as he vanished within a sea of purgatory flames.

Qin Wentian turned and gazed at the other figures, his eyes thick with killing intent.

"Regardless of whether I can survive, at the very least, all of you, MUST DIE." Qin Wentian voice radiated with cold fury, these people were the ones that wanted to kill him first, not allowing him to walk out of the ancient kingdom alive. Since they were being so merciless in their decisiveness he would return the favor in kind by killing them to break the grudges formed.

These experts had all tried to escape, yet they simply weren't fast enough. Those experts who'd made a move earlier, those from the Chen Clan, Hua Clan, and Wang Clan, had all died the most miserable deaths. The number of people trying to escape continued on, amidst a sea of death.

The countenance of the middle-aged man grew incredibly ugly to behold-the purgatory flames relentlessly rained down, and even his faction had more than a few who died. At this moment, he unfurled an ancient scroll, containing the power of the concept of space within-it was his life-saving treasure.

With a flick of his hands, the ancient scroll emitted a terrifying light as the power of space enveloped him and his faction within. As the purgatory flame rained down, that ancient scroll trembled intensely before breaking apart, but the silhouettes that it enveloped had all already disappeared.

Such a treasure could only be used once.

Several experts from the transcendent powers were all frenziedly trying to escape. Those spectators who stayed behind dared not remain any longer, as they joined the experts in their escape.

The whole space had already transformed into Purgatory on Earth, easily causing several powerful experts to fall.

At this moment, just when a figure was attempting to escape, Qin Wentian's gaze immediately shot towards that person as he stated in a cold voice, "Di Feng, stay behind."

The face that turned to look back at him, wasn't that of the old Emperor Azure. It was the pale face of a young man, with an extremely ordinary appearance, looking totally inconspicuous.

That person gazed at Qin Wentian, "Sir, are you talking to me?"

"If you had directly left instead, maybe I wouldn't have blocked you. But because you feared that I would kill you, you actually resorted to changing your entire appearance within the chaos. In that case, you will have to die here today." Qin Wentian's gaze sharpened, as the purgatory flames rained down with greater intensity. Di Feng took advantage of the earlier chaos earlier to change his appearance and tried to sneak away. If it weren't for Qin Wentian's monstrous perception, he would never have noticed him.

Di Feng had ruined himself with his own cleverness.

"It seems that you've mastered the art of disguise. If that's the case, there are no doubts he's the person who impersonated me and interacted with Mu Feng and his family back then." Qin Wentian's voice was ice-cold, as an intense murderous urge could be seen flashing past his eyes. Di Feng wanted to act ignorant? Too bad, it wouldn't work in front of him.

"What did you say?" Nearby, Mu Feng stared at Di Feng, his eyes erupting with a frigidness so cold that those near him could feel the deathly chill.

"I've only met you once, yet you wanted me to die so much you would devise such a method to kill me using Mu Feng's hands?" Qin Wentian stepped out as his aura soared upwards, and a terrifying pressure enveloped Di Feng.

Di Feng's countenance turned ashen, and he knew that his plot had been seen through. With his skills in the illusion-arts, it was a simple thing to mask his true features.

"We may have this grudge between us, but after today's performance I'm more than totally convinced of your abilities. I will submit completely, and will aid you in accomplishing great things in the name of the Azure Emperor," Di Feng replied, in a manner neither servile nor overbearing. This person was extremely intelligent, able to sense the flow of matters.

Di Feng's countenance turned incredibly ugly, "If you kill me, you will definitely form an enmity with the Di Clan."

"No matter, I shall clean the Di Clan of trash." The expression on Qin Wentian's face was as sharp as ever, his words causing Di Feng's countenance to turn grim. To the side, Mu Feng walked up, step by step, as poison qi dangerously gushed out of his body.

Di Feng retreated, staring at Mu Feng, "I have no idea what's going on. And if I wanted to kill Qin Wentian, I would have done it myself and not through the hands of others."

Even at this moment, Di Feng refused to admit the truth.

A raging wind kicked up, Qin Wentian's silhouette vanished from its original spot and instantly appeared before Di Feng. With a striking speed akin to lightning, he blasted out with a dragon imprint. Di Feng hurriedly raised his palms in defense, but as an explosive sound thundered out, he was directly flung through the air.

With no lapse in his movements, Qin Wentian appeared before Di Feng once more as countless ancient bells slammed into Di Feng's body. Di Feng's heart pounded rapidly, feeling as though it would explode at any moment as fresh blood sprayed out from his mouth. He had no way to withstand Qin Wentian's attacks.

"Your sister tasted excellent." Di Feng stared at Mu Feng as he laughed evilly. Mu Feng paled, then sliced one of his fingers, allowing the black-colored blood within to drip onto Di Feng's body. A moment later, Di Feng's body was drying out, as the reservoir of blood within his body slowly turned black.

"ARGHHHH!" A horrifying, gut-wrenching scream rang out. Di Feng's body was contorted by his convulsions, yet the hatred in his eyes never lessened. He never would have thought his cleverness would be the cause of his own downfall. If he hadn't changed his appearance before sneaking away, Qin Wentian wouldn't have noticed him.

The terrible screams rang out without cease, and ultimately, Di Feng turned into a dry husk that shattered into dust with a single touch. He had died an extremely pitiful death.

Mu Feng's eyes were completely red as he stared at the spot where Di Feng was once at. Seeing an interspatial ring in that pile of dust, Qin Wentian made a grabbing motion, causing Di Feng's ring to fly into his hands.

Di Feng had been a successor of the Di Clan, and Qin Wentian wondered if there would be any items in Di Feng's interspatial ring which he could use.

Mu Feng turned his head back to gaze at Qin Wentian. "I've misunderstood you in the past and today you've helped me once again by helping me to unmask my enemy. From today onwards I will follow you up till the point where the transcendent powers of Grand Xia will no longer be a threat to you."

Qin Wentian had a strange glow in his eyes as he looked at Mu Feng, "You don't need to do this."

"I know that my current strength is useless when facing against those transcendent powers. But in the future, you will surely find a use for me," Mu Feng calmly spoke, before turning and walking back in the direction of the arena platform.

Although his personality had undergone a huge change, becoming extremely uncommunicative, he was still filled with great confidence regarding his own future.

And because of the promise he'd made today, in future, the new Poison Monarch Mu Feng would become the character by Qin Wentian's side that his enemies would fear the most.

Qin Wentian turned back as he stared at Mu Feng, yet he didn't say anything. The things he'd done today were for himself, and had nothing to do with Mu Feng. But since Mu Feng was so adamant, there was nothing he could say that would influence Mu Feng's decision.

At this moment in that vast space, not many remained. Those who died, died. Those who escaped, had already escaped. A terrifying energy frenziedly circulated around towards the direction of the ancient kingdom. From this moment onwards, the ancient kingdom became a forbidden location.

Qin Wentian returned back to the platform and stared at his friends with a bitter smile on his face. "I'm afraid I have no idea how we're going to leave here safely today."

Although the Vermilion Bird Formation had slain many that day, this place was still the Ginkou continent and other experts from the transcendent powers would definitely arrive here to surround them before they could make a move.

Stretching out his arms, a violent wind gusted by as the Divine Stele flew into his hands. Qin Wentian then extended his will and immersed it into the Divine Stele. An instant later, his perception touched upon the cultivation arts and innate techniques recorded within.

The nine ultimate arts of Grand Xia!

Qin Wentian opened his eyes and gazed at his comrades, smiling as he stated, "Everyone come here and choose the ultimate art most suitable for yourself to cultivate."

The countenances of everyone stiffened, when suddenly Ouyang Kuangsheng began to laugh loudly. "Seems like being trapped here has its own advantage. Why be sad when we can cultivate Grand Xia's ultimate arts? We might as well stay here for a year or two and master them all."

Qin Wentian smiled bitterly, giving a helpless shrug. He turned his gaze onto the Heavens while wondering in his heart: obtaining first place, was this a blessing or a curse?

But what's past was past, he'd fight only for the present.

Even if the entire Grand Xia ended up as his enemy, he would still do what it took to achieve his goal-to create a world that belonged solely to him.